Antillean Palm-SwiftTachornis phoenicobia

Systematics

Geographic Variation

Two subspecies recognized:

iradii, described as Cypselus iradii Lembeye 1850; type locality Cuba

Occurs on Cuba.

Similar to nominate phoenicobia, but "tail more deeply forked; back averaging much more sooty (less black), color of sides averaging decidedly paler, and sides of head more extensively grayish brown; averaging larger" (Ridgway 1911).

Related Species

Phylogenetic relationships within swifts (Apodidae) are not fully resolved. Traditionally two subfamilies are recognized, Cypseloidinae (Cypseloides and Streptoprocne) and Apodinae, with the latter in turn divided into three tribes (Chantler 2000). Tachornis is classified in the tribe Apodini, which includes taxa both from the New World (Aeronautes, Tachornis, and Panyptila) and from the Old World (Apus and Cypsiurus).